A Gladiator's Oath

by Tanya Bird

  She disappeared beneath a long shadow. Albaus. He stood beside Mila as he had in the arena, holding the reins of a tall horse. If it were not for the shock, and perhaps his pride, he might have run to her, or at least smiled. Instead, he crossed his arms, leaning his weight on one foot. She made the first move, walking over to him, taking in the scene behind him—loaded horses, Felix, and an incessantly talking Nero who had not drawn a breath all day.

  She stopped in front of him, and when he did not greet her, she said, ‘Where are you going?’

  He turned to the horses, as though he needed to check the answer for himself. That was when Nero noticed her, his face lighting up. He tried to go to her but Felix caught hold of his arm, pulling him back. The boy looked between them and gave up the fight.

  ‘First stop, Egypt,’ Remus replied, turning back to her.

  She nodded, looking past him again. She seemed nervous. He had seen her that way before, but this was different.

  ‘You are actually doing it, going to India.’

  ‘Assuming the ship doesn’t sink and there’s no plague outbreak, yes.’

  She looked really proud of him in that moment. His hands fell to his sides.

  She glanced around for a moment before asking, ‘Is there room for two more?’ She gestured behind her. ‘We have our own horse.’

  He could not stop the reaction inside him. There was nothing he wanted more. That was why the question was so cruel. She was not his to take anywhere. ‘Guards would stop us before we reached the city’s wall. They’d kill us both.’

  She opened the bag she had been carrying over her shoulder and pulled out a small scroll. ‘Would this help?’

  He stared at it for a moment before speaking. ‘That depends. What is it?’

  She swallowed. There were those nerves again.

  ‘Papers.’ Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. ‘Signed by Rufus Papias this morning.’

  He crushed the hope rising in his chest because he knew the disappointment would be too much. ‘What do they say?’

  ‘That… that I am free.’

  She said the words as though she barely believed them herself.

  He looked down, scratching his nose, sure that if he looked directly up at her he would weep like a baby. What had she just said? He knew what he had heard, but what had she actually said? ‘You’re… free?’

  ‘Yes.’ It was barely a whisper.

  His hands began to tremble, and he looked behind him at the others to gauge their reaction before allowing himself to feel anything. They seemed equally shocked by the announcement.

  ‘I went straight to Ludus Magnus,’ she said, filling the gaping silence. ‘Fausta told me you had left a few days ago.’ Another clearing of the throat. ‘When she told me of your plans, I realised that I might not survive the disappointment of losing you a second time.’ She paused. ‘You see, I am very much in love with you. I thought it might go away with time, but apparently it does not work that way.’

  He definitely could not look at her. Even still, his legs carried him forwards and his hands reached for her, taking handfuls of soft, clean hair, something else that was new about her. His lips crashed against hers. She was not shy, pushing up on her toes, her hands winding around his neck. She smelled like honey and herbs, and tasted like butter and cinnamon. He pulled her closer, really hoping he had heard correctly, because by that stage he was prepared to leave the city with her anyway—fight his way out if need be.

  Felix coughed and Mila pulled away, smiling. He would punch that dwarf later. His head tipped forwards, resting against hers; whatever he was feeling, he was dizzy with it. A strange laugh escaped him, probably a release of the fear he had been stifling for months. He could not stop smiling.

  ‘So that is a yes, then?’ she asked, closing her eyes and rubbing her face against his beard.

  He straightened, threading his fingers through hers in case she tried to flee. ‘Only if you agree to be my wife.’

  She stepped back from him, but he did not let go of her. ‘That depends. What would it be like to be married to Remus Latinius, one of Rome’s most notorious gladiators?’

  He glanced down at her hands, trapped inside his. ‘A lot like this, I imagine.’

  She pretended to think on the subject. ‘Will I need a shield?’

  He pulled her back to him, hating the distance between them. ‘No shield,’ he murmured into her smiling mouth.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck again and jumped up, legs wrapping him. He caught her with an oomph.

  ‘You’ve really let yourself go,’ he teased.

  Her mouth went over his again, silencing him.

  Albaus led the horse past them, settling himself among the travelling party, ruffling Nero’s hair as the boy beamed up at him. Felix nodded a greeting and patted his giant arm.

  ‘Excellent. Now people are going to think we are a travelling circus act.’

  Albaus groaned, turning to look at Remus and Mila, who remained in the middle of the narrow street in the heart of Rome.

  ‘Let’s move!’ Felix called.

  Remus placed Mila on the ground and went to smack her backside. She sidestepped and he missed.

  ‘Now who has let themselves go?’ she called over her shoulder.

  He gave chase and she broke into a run, reaching the horses well ahead of his half effort. Nero hugged her before pulling away to tell her about all the amazing things they were going to see.

  ‘Are you excited to see the pyramids?’ he asked, his face bright.

  She draped an arm around his shoulders. ‘The pyramids and elephants are the only reason I am joining this circus.’

  ‘What about the tigers?’ Nero asked.

  ‘No,’ Mila and Remus said at the same time, glancing at one another.

  ‘Can I ride with Albaus?’ Nero asked.

  ‘Suits me,’ Felix said. ‘Now, who can help me mount this beast without laughing?’

  ‘I’ve never laughed at you mounting a horse,’ Remus said, stepping forwards and linking his hands to make a stirrup.

  Felix raised a foot. ‘What about that time you raised me with too much force?’

  A laugh escaped Remus. ‘That was funny. But to be fair, I’d have laughed at any man flying over the top of a horse.’

  Felix cursed as he settled himself in the saddle.

  ‘Who should I ride with?’ Mila asked.

  Remus took her bag and handed it to Felix before scooping her up in his arms. ‘You’ll ride with me.’ He walked over to his horse and stopped. ‘But before I carry you into our marital home, making our union official—’

  ‘The horse is our marital home?’ she laughed.

  He continued as though she had not spoken. ‘You must consent.’

  ‘I have already consented.’

  ‘No you haven’t. A few bad jokes do not a marriage make.’

  She kissed his cheek. ‘Do you not want to hear the details of my dowry first?’

  ‘Not really. Right now I just want your consent. If you turn out to be wealthy, that’ll be a nice bonus.’

  ‘Fair enough. I consent to marry you.’

  He kissed her, deeply, and then placed her on top of the horse. ‘Done. See? Wasn’t so hard.’

  ‘We have only been wed a few moments. Ask me in a year.’

  He used the stirrup to pull himself up behind her. His arms wrapped her as he took up the reins. ‘Who’s ready to leave this godforsaken city?’

  ‘Thought you would never ask,’ Felix said, kicking his horse into a walk.

  Remus turned to Nero, eyebrows raised in question.

  ‘Me,’ said the boy, turning to the bodyguard. ‘You ready, Albaus?’

  Albaus pushed the horse forwards.

  Remus’s lips hovered near Mila’s ear. ‘Ready?’ he whispered.

  She glanced over her shoulder at the busy street behind them. ‘Ready.’

  Epilogue

  May 17, 204AD

  * * *
/>
  The hut was made from baked bricks and wood Remus had cut with his own hands. He loved to work with wood, and Mila would sit in the chair he had made for her, watching him work barefoot beneath the large silk-cotton tree. Its bulging roots provided a steady work surface.

  She pulled her feet up and gazed out over the coarse grass that gave way to soft sand and calm water. There, wading in the shallows, was their daughter, her small hand wrapped by Nero’s much larger one.

  Upon arriving in Muziris four years earlier, they had made their way to the city of Barace, where Remus had set up contacts for the trade of pepper. A few months later they had found a pocket of land south of the city. The owner had agreed to let them build on it for a cut of the profits. A year on, Asha had arrived, her small hands clenched into fists and her lungs in perfect working order.

  ‘Look at her,’ Remus had said to an exhausted Mila. ‘She looks ready for the arena.’

  Mila had laughed, watching as the baby was passed from Nero, to Felix, and finally to Albaus, who immediately handed her back to Remus, visibly terrified by the size of the small infant in his large hands.

  ‘I can’t stop looking at her,’ Remus had said.

  Mila had smiled, blinking away exhaustion. ‘Look at what we made. And she is free.’

  He had teared up at that.

  Her gaze returned to him, his form familiar and as beautiful as the first time she had seen him. ‘You should go for a swim, cool off,’ she called to him.

  He laid down his tools and wiped the sweat from his brow. ‘Good idea.’

  She watched as he peeled off the tunic she had made for him, then walked over to her.

  ‘What are you doing?’ she asked, instantly wary.

  He bent, scooping her off the chair and throwing her over his shoulder. She squealed, pounding his back with her fists. ‘Now I am covered in your sweat.’

  ‘Yes you are.’

  Nero looked up as they approached, pointing to them so Asha turned to see. Laughter erupted from the three-year-old.

  ‘I swear to the gods, if you throw me in with my clothes on…’

  Remus strode across the sand and into the water, past Nero and his daughter until he was waist deep in the sea. Mila clung to him, trying to keep her sari out of the water.

  ‘Take me to the sand right now!’

  Remus looked at Nero. ‘What do you think?’

  A smile grew on his face. ‘I say throw her in.’

  Mila tried to turn her head. ‘I will remember that later when you ask for a second serving of dinner.’

  Remus ignored her. ‘What about you, Asha? Should we throw your mother in?’

  With both hands gripping Nero’s, the girl nodded mischievously.

  ‘Remus!’ Mila said. ‘The moment we are on dry land—’

  Before she could finish her sentence, Remus held her by her waist and threw her into the water. She came to the surface, gasping for air and wiping at the hair clinging to her face.

  Remus smiled down at her. ‘Refreshing?’ he teased.

  Without warning, she leapt up and tackled him into the water, holding his head under for good measure. ‘See for yourself.’

  ‘Mila, stop drowning your husband.’ Felix’s voice carried across the water. She turned to see him smirking at her.

  She released Remus and he emerged laughing. Once he had found his feet, she shoved him backwards again before wading back to the shore where Felix waited with the wooden swords and shields.

  ‘Nero,’ Mila called, ‘you want to train with me?’

  In his fifteenth year, Nero was growing up and out, eating anything that was not tied down. He waited for Remus to take Asha before joining Mila on the beach. Felix tossed him one of the swords and a shield, and he spent a moment adjusting his grip.

  ‘My hands are wet,’ he said.

  Mila shrugged. ‘I am afraid you will not be able to request ideal fighting conditions when the time comes.’ She hoped it never would.

  They fought, Mila giving the boy as much as he could handle and occasionally a little more.

  ‘Step into it,’ Felix called to Nero. They all wanted him ready for whatever the gods had in store for him.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Mila saw Remus step out of the water and place Asha down onto the sand.

  ‘Sword!’ Asha cried, picking up a long stick and running towards them.

  ‘Shields up!’ Remus called.

  Mila suppressed a smile, feeling her husband’s laughing eyes on her. Nero turned to Asha, crouching to her height as she came crashing in, waving her stick and squealing with laughter. After a moment, Nero collapsed on the sand with a theatrical groan, and Felix declared Asha the victor.

  The life they had built was by no means a privileged one, but it was happier than most. It was more than enough.

  Albaus strode down the grass slope towards them, too large for the shifting sand beneath him. He went straight to Mila, handing her a scroll.

  ‘A letter?’ she asked.

  He nodded. A ship had docked in Muziris the day before, bringing gold and jewels to pay for the pepper it would take back to Rome. She glanced at Remus, his playful expression gone, and unrolled it. She recognised Nerva’s handwriting. Her eyes moved over the words, absorbing the information and names of the people she had left behind.

  Nero picked up Asha and carried her off in the direction of the hut. He had always been good at reading tense situations, and he protected Asha like a brother.

  ‘Emperor Severus is forming a new legion. He has asked Nerva to lead it.’

  Remus walked over and took the letter from her, scanning its contents. Mila had taught him to read during their first year together. Like most things, he had picked it up fast.

  ‘That’s quite a step up given he’s only been a centurion for a few years,’ he said, handing the letter back to her.

  ‘Yes, but he has always been a leader.’ She looked out at the water, questions rising in her mind like mountains.

  Remus brushed a hunk of sand-covered hair off her face. ‘What are you thinking?’

  She shook her head. ‘Dulcia will be alone when he leaves.’

  ‘Dulcia’s not a child anymore.’ His tone was gentle.

  She swallowed. ‘I know. It’s just… I promised her I would come back. We had only planned to be away for a year or two.’

  He nodded. ‘Then Asha came along. We agreed the journey was too risky for an infant.’

  Her gaze went to the hut and then to Albaus. She knew he would follow her anywhere, even if he had never spoken the words. Looking at Felix, she asked, ‘How do you feel about returning to Rome?’

  ‘I never wanted to leave.’ There was humour in his tone.

  It took a surprising amount of strength to look at Remus. ‘What about you, husband? This is the life you wanted,’ she said, looking around. ‘Can you see yourself walking away from it? Returning to the city where we lived as slaves?’

  His gaze swept their surroundings. ‘Who says we can’t come back?’

  She wrapped her arms around his middle.

  ‘The only life I want is one with you,’ he murmured.

  ‘Walking away,’ Felix said, pointing to the hut. ‘You can fill me in on the details later.’ He turned and left, Albaus following after him.

  Remus kissed the top of Mila’s head. ‘I mean it. If you need to go to Rome, we go to Rome.’

  She pushed herself up on her toes so she could kiss him. ‘You will trade all of this for filthy city streets?’

  ‘For you, yes. Everything’s set up here. There are men I trust to take over.’

  A flock of storm petrels flew overhead, casting flickering shadows across the sand.

  Mila turned her head at the sound of Asha playing outside the hut. ‘She needs to see the city we came from, meet the small family she has outside of the one we made.’

  The smell of fish guts and turned oil was already returning to her. She tipped her face up to read Remus’s expression. H
e brushed sand off her forehead and kissed it.

  ‘To Rome?’

  She closed her eyes against the sun. ‘To Rome.’

  In 200AD, Emperor Septimius Severus banned female gladiators when he issued a decree banning single combat by women in the arena for “recrudescence among some upper-class women, and the raillery this provoked among the audience”.

  * * *

  —Cassius Dio, Roman History

  Where to now?

  Book two in the Roman Hearts series is available right now.

  * * *

  A Charioteer’s Promise tells Nero and Dulcia’s story. It’s sweet, angsty, and action-packed.

  * * *

  Head to https://tanyabird.com/books/a-charioteers-promise/ for details and retail links.

  * * *

  Author’s note

  There are a few things I wanted to mention about the writing of this book, the first being that all the characters are fictional, with the exception of Emperor Septimius Severus. Not only was Severus the emperor at the time in which the story is set, but he was also the man responsible for the banning of female gladiators, so I felt his inclusion important.

  * * *

  It’s worth pointing out that I have used some modern phrases in instances where I felt the reader would not understand some words in a particular context. The last thing I wanted was readers coming out of the story to google terminology. You might also have noticed that the dialogue is not a true representation of that period, and that’s intentional. I wanted the story to be accessible to a wide audience.

  * * *

  Historians cannot agree on what the sponsor’s thumb signals represented. It was tempting to follow Hollywood interpretations, which suggest a thumbs up means let them live, but after much research, I concluded that no one knows for sure. The next best thing is an educated guess. I tend to lean towards the theory that a thumbs up signifies an upwards thrust of a sword through the heart. In other words, kill. A thumbs down, then, would signify laying down/dropping the weapon.